A Thanksgiving dinner takes time to plan, and part of the
planning process includes figuring out how many people to invite
since the number of guests will determine how much food to purchase
and prepare.
A Thanksgiving dinner takes time to plan, and part of the planning process includes figuring out how many people to invite since the number of guests will determine how much food to purchase and prepare. If all goes well, there will be plenty of food for everyone. Sometimes though, the most memorable Thanksgiving dinners are those when unexpected guests show up unannounced.
The 10th annual charity dinner will be served at St. Catherine’s O’Donnell Parish Center Wednesday. The dinner has become an annual tradition of service for individuals and families that donate food, volunteer to cook, or volunteer to serve the meal to those less fortunate in our community.
The very first Thanksgiving dinner that can be credited for launching the charity dinner took place in November 1999. The location the dinner was served was not in Morgan Hill but in Nicaragua.
Back then, a group of us traveled to Nicaragua to help build homes in communities ravaged by hurricane Mitch, one of the most powerful hurricanes on record to hit Central America. From Oct. 29 through Nov. 3, 1998, hurricane Mitch left a trail of devastation that resulted in a death toll of more than 20,000 and an estimated 2.7 million left homeless.
When our group first arrived in Managua, we attended an orientation meeting. The organizers of the relief efforts informed us that we would leave the next day on an eight hour drive north to a little village called El Mango.
They also asked us to leave behind any food items, since introducing foreign foods can cause disparity in the village. To avoid any problems, it was explained that our meals would be similar to those eaten within the community; we would not receive any preferential treatment. The reasoning behind their request became clear a few days later when a member of our group offered a child on the road a stick of gum. Within an hour, there were close to two dozen children from the village swarming with requests for sticks of gum, and we did not have a supply great enough to meet their needs.
Our sleeping arrangements included a storage warehouse with a concrete slab where we spread our sleeping bags and personal belongings. The villagers were very poor and possessed little. It was humbling to live and work among families that had lost everything in the hurricane.
After a week of gallo pinto (red beans and rice) for breakfast, lunch and dinner, we began to crave a change in our diet. One day, we noticed wild turkeys roaming the open fields and someone said jokingly, “Let’s catch one and have a Thanksgiving dinner.”
We recruited an elderly man from the village to catch and prepare the turkey, and soon we were planning a feast. However, the day before our special meal, a rumor began to spread around the worksite. “Hey, is it true you’re throwing a party?” I would nonchalantly answer, “No, where did you hear that?” Others in our group also tried to dispel any rumors knowing that our small turkey would barely be big enough to feed our group.
The next day, we built a makeshift barbecue pit and began to cook our turkey. We stood around the campfire reminiscing, laughing and reflecting on our day when all of a sudden, we heard music coming from down the dirt road. The villagers from El Mango, young and old, were walking toward our camp accompanied by musicians. The party rumored about the day before was for us.
The villagers formed a half circle in an open field and began to dance. One by one we all joined in the music and merriment. After a few hours, one of the village elders set off fireworks to the excitement of the young.
The party concluded, and the villagers said their goodbyes, leaving as they had arrived – walking together. Our group sat around the dinner table, ate our turkey, and marveled at the gratitude and generosity expressed by the community of El Mango. We enjoyed our dinner even more as a result of spending time with our unexpected guests.
Two members of our Nicaragua group, Janet Leach and Marta Valle, came home and organized St. Catherine’s first charity dinner for the evening before Thanksgiving. Along with a large group of dedicated volunteers, these women have served a celebration dinner in our community for the past 10 years. The appreciation and thankfulness we experienced from the people of El Mango is relived every year as we share a meal, share our lives and remain open to unannounced and unexpected guests.
Mario Banuelos has lived in Morgan Hill for 21 years. He has served on the south County Dayworker Committee and is a member of the Morgan Hill Community Foundation. He is married and has four children.
